Prim Texts of Latin Amer Civ · Columbia College Core
I learned a ton about fundamental texts and thought in Latin America over a wide variety of topics and time periods. From Columbus to Afro-Peruvian mystics to Guevara, I learned about many individuals who have impacted Latin American in one way or another. I learned how to better deep dive into primary sources with a critical eye and while applying different lenses. I learned about a general chronology of certain events in Latin America and background information to those events.
Brazil,brazil,brazil,brazil -- honestly not sure whether this was primary texts of Latin America or an intro course for brazil
I learned about key historical texts of Latin America, their lasting effects, and the ideas and themes that were most relevant in the forming of the Latin American identity.
Moderately heavy reading twice a week. You can get away with missing the reading a few times, but don't make a habit of it. While some readings were long, few were particularly dense. Assignments graded generously. Attendance (10%), ten short blog posts (20%), in-class presentation (20%), final paper (5-7 pages, 30%), final exam (20%, less difficult than regular CC).
I have learned about different Latin American history. I have also learned about important historical figures and their motivations and interests.
Latin American society as it developed throughout colonization and decolonization.
Read primary texts of Latin America and discussed how they fit into the historical context and what issues they dealt with.
Tons - the course is a fantastic overview on the formation of modern day Latin America and professor Traldi in particular has an encyclopedic knowledge.
What is Anne Freeland doing at Columbia? She is far too lively, friendly, and adept at teaching to fit in with the rest of our professors. Nevertheless, while Anne is here, you really ought to take her class. She drove energetic class discussions with the experience of a professor far beyond her years. Themes which were part of the class include self-determination, authenticity, and the role of indigenous peoples. The readings balanced these themes well. The intellectual meta-commentary on them was missing, but I guess the class is "primary texts." She also has a background in Marxist anthropology, integrating this discourse into lectures. While most of it flew over everyone's head, I think it was a valuable foundation for other classes. Our group activities were hit or miss, and the availability of texts was a problem around the middle of the semester, but otherwise this was a class you could look forward to.
The philosophical and political theories of Latin American intellectuals